Article Posture Change Using Tag Grasping and Gravity Rotation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Convenience stores and supermarkets face labor shortages, necessitating automated solutions for sales floor management, particularly in rearranging merchandise to proper postures, as existing methods are inefficient and labor-intensive.
Innovation Solution
An article posture changing device equipped with end effectors and a controller that recognizes and adjusts the posture of articles using recognition units and a rotating mechanism, allowing for automated face-up operations by grasping and repositioning tags on articles, regardless of their initial posture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual methods are used to rearrange articles, then flexibility in handling various article postures is maintained, but labor intensity and time consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The article uses its own weight to change its posture automatically. When the end effector grasps the article and moves it to an inverted position, the article's weight causes it to rotate and settle into the correct upright posture without requiring additional actuators or complex control mechanisms. This self-service approach simplifies the automation system while dramatically improving productivity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple end effectors are used to handle articles in various postures, then adaptability increases, but device complexity and operational difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single end effector is designed with a gripper that can adaptively grasp articles regardless of their initial posture. The end effector moves to an inverted position and uses the article's own weight to achieve proper orientation. This universal approach eliminates the need for multiple specialized end effectors while maintaining high adaptability for handling various article types and postures.
3Manufacturing precision
If articles are grasped and moved to change posture, then positioning accuracy improves, but the risk of damaging articles or tags increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary recognition of the article's current posture and tag position using recognition units before grasping. The end effector is positioned and oriented in advance based on this recognition information, ensuring that the grasping action and subsequent movement are optimized to minimize stress on the article and tag while achieving accurate positioning.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device simplifies the process of rearranging articles into proper postures, reducing operational complexity and time, enhancing store management efficiency by automating the face-up operation and improving labor utilization.
Implementation Method 1
a first end effector configured to grasp a projected tag of an article by adsorption
Data Source
AI summary
According to an embodiment, an article posture changing device includes: a first end effector configured to grasp a projected tag of an article by adsorption; an arm unit configured to support the first end effector and move the first end effector along at least a vertical direction; and a controller configured to control the arm unit and the first end effector to grasp the tag, lift the article upward, separate the article from a placement surface, change an angle of the article by weight thereof, move the article downward, place the article on the placement surface, and release the grasp of the tag.